Machine for pressing soles on shoes



Nov. 1, 1949. P. w. SENFLEBEN 2,486,537

MACHINE FOR PRESSING SOLES ON SHOES Filed Sept. 5, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 fizz/safari 11% Paul w. Jehfleben.

Nov. 1, 1949. P. w S-ENFILEBEN MACHINE FOR PRESSING SOLES ON SHOES Filed Sept. 5, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Paul W San/262260 Nov. 1, 1949,. P. w. SENFLEBEN 2,486,537

' MACHINE FOR PRESSING SOLES ON SHOES Fil ed Sept. 5, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 a fill/6221 0) Paul w Sanflcb m Patented Nov. 1, 1949 MACHINE FOR PRESSING SOLES N SHOES Paul W. Senfleben, Malden, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation,

Flemington, J a corporation of New Jersey Application September 5, 1946, Serial No. 694,965

27 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for use in attaching soles to shoes, and particularly for use in practising the method disclosed in an application for Letters Patent of the United States Serial No. 667,187, filed May 3, 1946, in my name.

Objects of the invention are to provide a simple and effective machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms in which one shoe may be in position for treatment by an operator while another shoe is under pressure, to provide means for causing pressure to be applied to a shoe when placed in position to receive pressure, and to insure that the shoe will remain under pressure for an adequate period of time.

A feature of the invention consists in a pair of supports or jacks to receive shoes arranged to move horizontally in rectilinear paths into and out of position under pressure-applying pads and means for causing movement of one jack in one direction to effect equal movement of the other jack in the opposite direction.

Another feature of the invention consists in fiuid-pressure-operated means for applying pressure to the shoe and means responsive to movement of either of the jacks into pressure-receiving position for initiating action of the fluid-pressure-operated means.

Another feature of the invention consists in means responsive to inward movement of either jack, for initiating the action of the fluid-pressure-operated means and means acting after a predetermined time to release the fluid-pressureoperated means.

These and other features of the invention will appear more fully from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of the jacks and their connection;

Fig. 3 is a view of the dial of the timing device with which the machine is equipped;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the construction of the timing device;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, of one of the jacks and the pressure-applying pad;

.Fig. 6 is a diagram of the fluid pressure system employed in the machine;

Fig. '7 is a front elevation of the machine with parts omitted for the sake of clearness; and

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuits employed.

'2 The machine comprises a frame l0 (Fig. 1) to the top of which is secured a plate l2 having at each side a rail l4 and in the center a rail Hi,

the rails forming two horizontal parallel guide- 1 ways for bases N3 of two jacks 20. A gib 22 (Fig. 2) is secured by screws 24 to the center rail and a gib 26 to each of the side rails by screws 28, the jacks being thus confined to rectilinear horizontal movement. A groove 30 is formed in the plate l2 at each side of the rail l6 and in each groove is a rack bar 32, the teeth ofv the bars facing each other. Each rack bar is secured by screws 34 to the under side of the base [8 of one of the jacks 20. Between the rack bars is a pinion 36 meshing with both racks and mounted to rotate on a fixed axis 38. Thus, movement of one jack in one direction produces an equal movement of the other jack in the opposite direction. Each jack has a handle 40 for convenience in moving it.

On each jack is mounted a shoe form 42 (Figs. 1 and 5) which has the shape, size and longitudinal contour of a last bottom but is reduced, except at the extreme toe end, so as not to engage the upper. The form 42 is slotted to receive a plate 44 which enters a slot in the top of the jack Zllwhere it is held by a pin 46 engaging a horizontal slot 48 in the plate, by a pin 5!] engaging a nearlyvertical slot 52 in the plate, and by a spring latch 54 engaging a projection 5% on the plate 44. The form and jack are more fully described in my application above referred to.

Two rods 60, 62 (Fig. 7) are mounted for vertical reciprocation in the frame l0, each rod having two bearings, one at 64 in the upper part of the frame [0 and the other at 66 farther down in a crosspiece 68 of the frame. At their upper ends the rods 60, G2 are connected by a crosshead 10 and at their lower ends by a crosshead 12, the rods and crossheads being normally maintained in their upper positions by a pair of compression springs 14, one on each of the rods between the crosshead 10 and the bearing 64. A rod 16 secured at the middle of the crosshead 12 forms the piston rod of a piston in a cylinder 18 to which fluid under pressure may be admitted through a pipe 80 to draw the rods and 62 and crossheads 10; 72 downwardly. Engagement of the piston with the upper end of. the cylinder limits upward movement of the crossheads in response to the springs 14. Mounted on the crosshead 10 (Fig. 5) is a pad box 82 having a longitudinal partition 84. In each chamber thus formed is placed a resilient pad 86, the pads being held in place by thin metal angle plates 88 attached at each end of the box and having portions underlying the pads. The pads 86 are of substantially uniform thickness and are held in the desired longitudinal contour by blocks 89 placed over the pad in the box 82.

The top of the pad box has convexly curved surfaces 90 which bear against corresponding concave surfaces on the crosshead 10, the curvature of both surfaces being struck from a center 92 lying close to the pressing surface of the pad.

To sustain the pad box, it has on each side a pair of ears 94, 96 each of which has a curved slot 98, the curvature of which is struck from the center 92. A rod I passes through the slots 98 in the ears 94 at the front of the machine, this rod also passing through a pair of projections I02 on the front side of the crosshead 10 (Fig. 1). A similar rod I04 passes through the curved slots in the ears 96 and through similar projections I05 (Fig. 5) on the rear side of the crosshead 10. A tension spring I06 connected to the rod I00 at one end and to an eye-bolt I08 at the other holds the pad box with the toe-engaging end tilted down so the pad will first engage the toe end of the shoe on the jack, the pressure progressing from the toe rearwardly. Surfaces 90 of the pad box slide on the corresponding surfaces on the crosshead 10 about the center 92 against the tension of the spring I06 until the box 82 engages a stop screw IIO which is adjusted to insure the application of adequate pressure to the forepart after the entire shoe bottom is engaged by the pad.

The hydraulic system is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6. A pump I20 is driven by a belt I22 from a motor I24 (Fig. 1). The pump I20 (Fig. 6) normally circulates pressure fluid from a tank (not shown) through apipe I26 and through a valve I28 normally held open by a spring I29 and back to the tank through a pipe I30. When the valve I28 is closed, for example by energizing a solenoid I32, the pressure fluid passes through the pipes I34 and 80 to the cylinder 18. Pipes I38 and I40 lead to a pressure-contro1 valve I42, and a pipe I44 to a pressure gage I46. The gage and pressure-control valve are, for convenience, located at the front of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1.

The solenoid I32 is caused to be energized and the pads 86 to be drawn down by a movement of either of the jacks into position under its pad, the pads being arranged one over one jack and the other over the other.

When either jack approaches the inner limit of its movement (Fig. 2), as determined by its engagement with a limit block I50, a fin I52 on the jack engages one of two screws I54 threaded through a crosspiece I56 secured to a rod I58 (Fig. 5) mounted to slide through a bracket I60 which is secured to the center rail I6. A compression spring I6I on the rod I58 urges the rod forward as far as permitted by a collar I62 on the rod. A lever I64 fulcrumed at I66 to the bracket I60 is pivotally connected at I68 to the sliding rod I58, and the lower end of the lever is so located as to engage a switch I10 and close it when the fin I52 on the jack strikes the screw I54 and moves the rod I58 and the lever I64, as shown in Fig. 5. Closing of the switch I10 causes the solenoid I32 to be energized and the valve I20 to be closed whereupon the piston in the cylinder 18 is forced down and with it the pads 86 on the crosshead 10 thus pressing a sole on the shoe of the jack which is under a pad.

Preferably a timing device is employed to determine the period during which the shoe remains under pressure. Such a device may be forms 42 of various sizes.

'mally held, by a spring I86 tending to move it clockwise, in coincidence with the hand I12, its movement in that direction being limited by an arm I88 on the shaft I84 which is held by the spring in engagement with a stop I90 on an arm I92 secured to the hand I12. The shaft I84 is connected by suitable gearing I94 to a shaft I96, in alinement with which is a shaft I98 connected by suitable gearing 200 to a synchronous motor 202. Between the shafts I96 and I98 is a clutch 204 the lower element of which is carried by a spring arm 206 between the ends of which is an electromagnet 208. Activation of the magnet will engage the clutch, elements to cause the hand I14 to be driven by the motor 202 in a counterclockwise direction toward zero on the scale I16. When the hand I14 reaches zero, a projection 2I0 on the arm I88 opens a normally closed microswitch 2I2 which stops the motor but does not de-energize the magnet 208 which holds the clutch engaged with the hand at zero.

A simplified diagram of the necessary wiring is shown in Fig. 8. The lead wires of an A. C. line supply are indicated at 2I4, 2I6, current passing through a main switch 2I8 and suitable fuses 220. A pilot light 222 is connected across the line through a resistance 224. The solenoid I32 which is connected across the line through a relay 226, becomes actuated with the closing of the relay contacts thereby closing the valve I28 and causing pressure to be applied to the shoe. In the line 2I4 is the switch I10 which is closed by inward movement of the jack. From the switch I10 a wire leads to points A, B. At B a line 230 leads to the relay 226 and thence to the line 2I6. At B also a line 232 leads to the synchronous motor 202 and thence to line 2I6. In the line connecting A and B is the normally closed microswitch 2I2, and from A a line 234 leads to the magnet 208 and thence to the line When the switch I10 is closed by the inward movement of either jack the relay 226 is energized to operate the solenoid I32. The magnet 208 is energized to throw in the clutch 204 between the hand I14 and the motor 202, and current is supplied through the microswitch 2I2 to run the motor 202 to cause the hand to move toward zero on the scale, starting from wherever the hand I12 was set. Upon reaching zero, the projection 2I0 opens the microswitch 2I2, thus cutting off current from A to B and hence both to the relay I26 and to the motor 202. Therefore, the valve I28 is opened by its spring I29 to release pressure on the shoe, and the motor 202 stops, the clutch 204 still holding the hand I14 at zero because the magnet 208 is still energized. When the jack in use is withdrawn from under the pad, however, the switch I10 opens, breaking the supply of current to the magnet 208, whereupon the clutch 204 opens, allowing the hand I14 to be moved by its spring I86 into coincidence with the hand I12, the machine then being in normal starting position.

A rack 236 (Fig, 1) is provided to hold spare A starting switch 238 amass-z for the motor I24- is located on the front of the machine and a last pm 240 is provided to hold a. usual last in case a shoe, after a platform sole has been pressed thereon by the machine, is to have a usual last insertedv therein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent oi the United States is:

l. A machine for pressing soles on shoes comprising a vertically movable pressure-applying means, a pair of jacks movable horizontally only, direct connections between the. jacks whereby movement of either jack in one direction produces an equal and opposite movement of the other jack, and means for operating the pressure-applying means to press the sole of a shoe on one of the jacks.

2, A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pair of pads, a. pair of jacks, direct connections between the jacks whereby manual movement of one jack moves the other jack in the opposite direction, and fluidoperated means for moving the pads to press the bottom of a shoe on one of the jacks.

3. A machine for pressing soles on shoes comprising a vertically movable crosshead, a. pair of pads carried by the crosshead, a pair of jacks movable horizontally parallel to each other, direct connections from one jack to the other for causing movement of one jack into and movement of the other out of position under the pads, and fluid-operated means for moving the crosshead toward the jack in use.

4. A machine for presmng soles on shoes comprising a crosshead movable in a right line, pads carried by the crosshead, a pair of jacks movable manually in right lines at right angles to the movement of the crosshead, direct connections between the jacks for imparting to either jack a movement equal and opposite to that of the other jack whereby one jack may be positioned under a pad while the other jack is in shoe-receiving position, and power-operated means for moving the crosshead toward the jack in use.

5. A machine for pressing soles on shoes comprising pressure-applying means, a pair of jacks, means for relatively moving the jacks and pres.- sure-applying means to press a sole on the shoe, a pinion on a fixed axis between the jacks, and a rack on each jack meshing with. the pinion whereby when either jack is in pressure-receiving position the other jack is removed from pressure-receiving position.

6. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising vertically movable pressureapplying means, a pair of jacks each movable into and out of position under the pressure-applying means, a pinion on a fixed axis, a rack on each jack meshing with the pinion whereby when one jack is moved under the pressure-applying means the other is moved out from under the pressure-applying means, and means for effecting downward movement of the pressure-applying means to press a sole on a shoe on the jack positioned thereunder.

7. A machine for pressing soles on shoes comprising a shoe support movable horizontally, a. pad movable vertically, fiuid-pressure-operated means for moving the pad toward the work support, a solenoid controlling the fluid-pressureoperating means, and a switch closed by movement of the jack under the pad for energizing the solenoid.

8. A machine for pressing soles on shoes comprising a pair of shoe supports movable hori- 6' zontally, a pair or pads movable vertically, fluidpressure-operated means for moving the pads toward the shoe support, a solenoid controlling the fluid-pressure-operated means, and a switch closed by movement of either jack under its pad for energizing the solenoid.

9. In a machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms, a pad, a jack movable into and out of position under the pad, fiuid-pressure-operated means for relatively moving the pad and jack to app y pressure to the shoe bottom, a. solenoid energization of which initiates the action of the fiuid-pressure-operated means, and means controlled by movement of the jack for energizing the solenoid.

10. In a machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms, a pair of pads, a. pair of jacks movable into and out of operative position relatively to said pads, fluid-pressure-operated means for relatively moving the pads and jacks to apply pressure to the bottoms of shoes on the jacks, a solenoid energization of which initiates the opera,- tion of. said fluid-pressure-operated means, and means operated by movement of either jack to cause the solenoid to be energized.

11. In a machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a crosshead movable in a right line, a pair of pads carried by the crosshead, a pair of jacks movable at right angles to the crosshead, means for causing movement of one jack into position under a pad on the crosshead to efiect movement of the other jack out of position under the pad, fiuid-pressure-operated means for moving the crosshead, and means operated by movement of either jack under the crosshead for initiating the action of said fluidprcssure-operated means.

12. In a machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms. a pair of shoe supports, a pair of pads for pressing soles on shoes carried by said sup ports, connections between said supports for causing movement of one support under its pad to effect movement of the other support out from under its pad, fluid-pressure-operated means for shooting relative movement between a pad and its shoe support to press a shoe thereon, and means operated by movement of either support under its pad for initiating the action of said fluid-pressure-operated means.

13. In a machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms, a pair of shoe supports, a pair of pads for pressing soles on shoes carried by said supports, connections between said supports for causing movement of one support under its pad to efiect movement of the other support out from under its pad, fluid-pressure-operated means for effecting relative movement between a pad and its shoe support to press a shoe thereon, means operated by movement of either support under its pad for initiating the action of said fluidpressure-operated means, and a timing device acting to terminate the action of said fluid-pressure-operated means after a predetermined time.

14. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad, a jack movable into and out of operative relation to the pad, fluidpressure-operated means for relatively moving the pad and jack to apply pressure to the shoe thereon, a, valve for controlling said fluid-pressure-operated means, and means controlled by movement of the jack for operating said valve.

15. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad, 2. jack movable into and out of operative relation to the pad, fluidpressure-operated means for relatively moving 7 the pad and jack to apply pressure to the shoe thereon, a solenoid-operated valve for controlling said fluidpressure-operated means, and a switch closed by movement of the jack for causing the solenoid to be energized for operating said valve.

16. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprisin a pad, a jack movable into and out of operative relation to the pad, fluidpressure-operated means for relativel moving the pad and jack to apply pressure to the shoe thereon, a solenoid-operated valve for controlling said fiuid-pressure-operated means, a switch in the solenoid circuit, a relay for operating said switch, a switch in said relay circuit, and means operated by movement of the jack to close said relay switch and cause operation of said fluidpressure-operated means.

1'7. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad, a jack movable into and out of operative relation to the pad, fluidpressure-operated means for relatively moving the pad and jack to apply pressure to the shoe thereon, a solenoid-operated valve for controlling said iluid-pressure-operated means, a switch in the solenoid circuit, a relay for operating said switch, a switch in said relay circuit, means operated by movement of the jack to close said relay switch and cause operation of said fluid-pressureeprated means, and means operated after a predetermined time to break the said relay circuit.

18. A machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms comprising a pad, a jack movable into and out of operative relation to the pad, fluidpressure-operated means for relatively moving the pad and jack to apply pressure to the shoe thereon, a solenoid-operated valve for controlling said fluid-pressure-operated means, a switch in the solenoid circuit, a relay for operating said switch, a switch in said relay circuit, means operated by movement of the jack to close said relay switch, a motor, a normally closed switch in said motor circuit and in said relay circuit, a hand movabletoward zero by said motor, and means operated by said hand when it reaches zero for opening said switch to de-energize the relay and hence the solenoid.

19. A machine for pressing soles on shoes comprising a crosshead, a pair of jacks movable into and out of position under the pads, fluid-pressure-operated means for moving the crosshead to apply pressure to the bottom of a shoe on one of the jacks, a timing device having a hand biased toward the initial setting, means for connecting the hand to a motor to turn at a substantially constant rate, means responsive to inward movement of either jack to initiate the action of the fiuid-pressure-operated means and to connect the hand to its motor, and means responsive to move ment of the hand for releasing the fluid pressure.

20. A machine for pressing soles on shoes comprising a crosshead, a pair of jacks movable into and out of position under the pads, fluid-pressure-operated means for moving the crosshead to apply pressure to the bottom of a shoe on one of the jacks, a timing device having a hand biased toward the initial setting, means for connecting the hand to a motor to turn at a substantially constant rate, means responsive to inward movement of either jack to initiate the action of the fluid-pressure-operated means and to connect the hand to its motor, means responsive to movement of the hand for releasing the fluid pressure and means responsive to outward movement of the jack to disconnect the hand from the motor.

21. A machine for pressing soles on shoes comprising a crosshead, a pair of jacks movable into and out of position under the pads, fluid-pressure-operated means for moving the crosshead to apply pressure to the bottom of a shoe on one of the jacks, a timing device having a hand to be given an initial setting, means for connecting the hand to a motor to turn at a substantially constant rate, means responsive to inward movement of either jack to initiate the action of the fluid-pressure-operated means and to connect the hand to its motor, means responsive to movement of the hand for releasing the fluid pressure, means responsive to outward movement of the jack to disconnect the hand from the motor, and means for returning the hand to its initial position.

22. In a machine for pressing shoe bottoms, a pad, a shoe support movable into and out of operative relation to the pad, said pad and support being relatively movable to apply pressure to a shoe on the support, fluid-pressure-operated means for relatively moving the pad and support, a. timing device comprising a timing hand arranged to be motor driven, means operated by movement of the jack under the pad for initiating the pressure of the fluid-pressure-operated means and connecting the timing hand to its motor, and means operated by the hand after a rpredetermined interval of time for releasing the fluid pressure.

23. In a machine for pressing shoe bottoms, a pad, a shoe support movable into and out of operative relation to the pad, said pad being movable to apply pressure to a shoe on the support, fluidpressure-operated means for moving the pad, a timing device comprising a timing hand arranged to be motor driven, means operated by movement of the support under the pad for initiating the pressure of the fiuid-pressure-operated means and connecting the timing hand to its motor, and means operated by the hand after a predetermined interval of time for releasing the fluid pressure.

24. In a machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms, a pad, a shoe support movable into and out of operative relation to the pad, said pad and support being movable to apply pressure to a shoe on the support, fluid-pressure-operated means for relatively moving the pad and support, a timing device comprising a timing hand biased toward a predetermined scale setting and movable toward zero on the scale, a motor for moving the hand, a clutch between the motor and the hand, means responsive to movement of the shoe and support into operative relation to the pad for initiating operation of the fluid-pressureoperated means and for setting said clutch to drive the hand, means responsive to movement of the hand as it approaches zero for releasing said fiuid-pressure-operated means, and means responsive to movement of the shoe support out of operative relation to the pad for releasing said clutch.

25. In a machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms, a pad, a shoe support movable into and out of operative relation to the pad, said pad and support being relatively movable to apply pressure to a shoe on the support, fluid-pressure-operated means for relatively moving the pad and support, a timing device comprising a timing hand biased toward a predetermined setting and movable toward zero, a motor for moving the hand, a clutch between the motor and the hand, means responsive to movement of the shoe support into operative relation to the pad for initating operation of the fluid-pressure-operated means and for setting said clutch to drive the hand, and means responsive to movement of the hand as it approaches zero for releasing said fluid-pressure-operated means.

26. In a machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms, a pad, a shoe support movable into and out of operative relation to the pad, said pad being movable to apply pressure to a shoe on the support, fiuid-pressure-operated means for moving the pad, a timing device comprising a timing hand biased toward a predetermined scale setting and movable toward zero on the scale, a motor for moving the hand, a clutch between the motor and the hand, means responsive to movement of the shoe support into operative relation to the pad for initiating operation of the fluid-pressure-operated means and for setting said clutch to drive the hand, means responsive to movement of the hand as it approaches zero for releasing said fiuid-pressure-operated means, and means responsive to movement of the shoe support out of operative relation to the pad for releasing said clutch.

27. In a machine for pressing soles on shoes, a shoe support, means for applying pressure to the bottom, and fluid-pressure-operated means for moving the crosshead to apply pressure to the shoe.

PAUL W. SENFLEBEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,514,606 Elliott Nov. 11, 1924 1,771,019 Stewart July 22, 1930 2,302,221 Huntoon Nov. 17, 1942 

